Dimmer system



Jan, 13, 1925.

C. C. ROBINSON DI MMER SYSTEM Filed Mamhl` 19, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 13, 1925- 1522,91]

C. C. ROBINSON DIMMER SYSTEM Filed March 19 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

CHARLES CUSTER BDBINSON, OF BICHMO'ND, VIRGINIA.

DIMMEB SYSTEM.

Application filed March 19, 1924. Serial No. 700,446.

To all 'whom it may concem:

4Be it known that I, CHARLES CUsTER ROB- INsoN, a citiz/en of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain Anew and`useful Improvements in Dimmer Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dimmer and like systems, and particularly to means for actuating dimmer switches singly and in groups.

Generally stated, the invention contemplates the use of a dimmer switch, or the like, having a definite range of movement, a presetting member having a similar range of-movement and means for looking it in any adjustment, a floating connection between the two which normally leaves each free to be moved independently of the other, but which connection is capable of being confined so that it constrains the switch and presetting member to related or proportional movement, and some normally inactive means for so confining the fioating connection.

By using a series of the units just described and connecting the confming means, so that they may be actuated in unison, 1 provide a device of peculiar utility. Any dimmer may be adjusted manually at any time, and to any extent, independently of the others. Any or all the presetting members may be set for a new efi'ect while the dimlners themselves all remain umlstnrbed; and, at any time thereafter, a single actuator may be operated to bring all the dimmers to the settings corresponding to the adjustments of the presetting mon'ibers. All theV dimmers arrive at their final posiiions simultaneously. Furthermore, the angular positions of the presetting member and the corresponding position of the dimmer handle, in the preferred form of the device, are coincident at the end of the operation just. described, so that the position of the dimmer handle and of the preset handle are read against the same Scale. This facilitates manipulation as it permits direct comparison of the positions of the two elements.

VVhile I describe the invention as applied to dimming switches, it is available for use for similar and related purposes. I use and preferas the floating connection a link or lever having a floating fulcrum, with means for positivelyl centering said fulcrum, but other mechanical movements may be substituted as will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a Vertical sectional view showing one switch unit and the mechanism for centering the floating fulcrum;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

F ig. 4 is a front elevation of a plurality of switch units assembled with an actuator for the fulcrum centering means common to all of them.

The various switch elements and their actuating mechanismsV are individually sup- Dorted on corresponding angle members 6, and a master actuating member, common to all of the switch units, is mounted on other angle members 6, the members 6 being part of any suitable framework not shown in detail.

A single switch unit Will first be described.

Bolted to the angle members 6 is an insnlating* base or plate 7 provided with the nsnal dimmer or rheostat'contacts 8, arranged in two arcuate series. The exact construction of the rheostat is not material and is not illustrated.

Projecting forward from the angle members (i is a plate 9, which serves as a support for the moving parts of the switch unit, and which, at its forward end, carriesan arcuate member 10, designed to serve as an indicator dial for both the dimmer lever and the presct lever, and also to serve as a latch sector for the latter. lt is provided with graduations ll, as shown, and with a series of latch notohes 12 for the purposes stated.

lilach arcuate member 10 also carries a front plate section 13, which coilectively form the front plate or housing of the switch mechanism. Each plate 13 is providcd with a slot 14: for the dimmer lever, and a slot 15 for the preset lever.

'The dimmer switch arm 16 is provided with the usual resilient contacts 17, and is fixed at 18 on a shaft lt, which tnrns in a bear-ing; in the plate 9. Fixed to the other end of the shal't 39, by m ,dans of a nut 20, is the dimmer handle 21 w ich projects forwithin their range of movement.

Vward through the slot 14, and which is pro- Vided with an index or pointer 22, co-acting with the scale 11. Consequently, the dimmer switch arm 'can be moved to any desired position by moving the handle lever 21.

Swiveled on the shaft 19 is a preset lever 23, which extends through the slot 15 and carries at its upper end a latch 2A, which engages the notc' es 12 and which has a small index. extension 25 also readable against the aduations 11. 'The preset lever 23 may swung to any desired position when the latch 24 is released, and may be latched thereby in any desired position.

A floating lever 26 is pivoted at 27 to the dimmer switch arm 16, and has a pin and slot connection 28 with the preset arm 23, the center line of the slot forming. part of this 'pin and slot connection, passing tlrough the center of the pivot connection 2 Fixed on the side ofthe floating lever 26 is a base or Stud 29, Whose distance from" thel pivot 27 is equal to the radial distance between the shaft 19 and the pivot 27. Consequently, if the Stud 29 be moved to such a position that its axis is coincident with the axis of the shaft 19, and if it be held there, the preset lever 23' and the dimmer switch arm 16 will be brought into and maintained in alignment.

AIt follows fnoin the above that if the stud 29 be left free, the dimmer switch arni 16 may be moved to any desired position by moving the handle lever 21 while the preset arm rema'ins latched in any position. Similarly, the preset arm 23 may lbe set to any desired position while the dimmer switch arm 16 and its .handle lever 21 remain at rest in any sition if the stnd 29 be forced into alignment with the shaft 19, the dimmer switch arm 16 must move to the setting indicated by the presetting Ilever 23.

To center the stud 29 I make use of a pair of cam plates 30, 31, which are mounted on shafts 32, 33, extending parallel with the shaft 19 above and below the plates 9. The shafts 32 and 33 are connected together by sector gears 34 and 35, so that they move in unison.

They might be actuated in any desired manner but I prefer that the actuating lever be on an axis aligned with the shaft 19. To

rmit'this, l mount the master actuating ever 36 on stub shaft 37' and connect this by means of sector gears 38 and 39 with the shaft 32. Consequently, the lever 36 operates both shafts 32 and 33 in unison, and, when actuated,` swings the cams 30, 31 toward each other.,

Such motion of the cams causes qne o1- another of them to engage the stud 29 and force it to alignment. with the shaft 19,

owever,

at which point the Stud is engaged also by the other cam and positively oonfined against displacement.

Several switch units are assembled side by side as indicated in F ig. 4, and the cams 30, 31 of each switch unit are mounted on one pair of shafts 32, 33, actuated by a single master lever 36. In order to retain the master lever 36 in its normal upwarcl position, it is provided with a counterweight 40, as indicated in the drawings. Any equivalent mechanism, such as a spring, might be substituted, .the purpose being to retain the master lever 36 in such position that the cams 30, 31 areretracted, leaving the floa-ting. levers 26 of all vthe 'switches free'.

The master lever beingv at its upper nor' mal position with thecams 30 and 31 re' tracted, as shown, it is possible to set the preset lever 23 at any desired position, by releasing the latch 24 and moving the lever, and then allowing the latchto reengage. Before or after setting the leverV 23', it is possible to adjust individual dimmer switch arms 16 by moving their corresponding handles 21.

By actuating the master handle 36, all the levers 21 will be brought into coincidence with the corresponding preset levers 23, andall will arrive at these positions simultaneously, for the reason' that they complete their movements just as the studs 29 reach the alignment with the shaft- 19.

It will be obsel'ved that the position in which. the preset lever 23 is set determines the position to which the correspondingehandle 21 will be moved by the master lever. Consequently, the setting of the preset leveis'h's' a direct indication of the positions te'be assumed by the leveis 21, and the positions of both levers may be indicated on a single scale. This feature is one of substantial importance 'fromthe manipulative standpolnt.

The device is of simple and inexpensive construction in all its parts, and the vari ous switch units may be multiplied in' definitely, permitting any desired number of switches to be handled.

As stated, other mechanical niovements capable of forming a yfloating connection between two related parts might be substitnted for the floating lever shown, but I prefer this because of its simplicity and the dirertness of its action.

VVhat is claimed is:

1. The combination of a dimmer switch a presetting member; means for fixing: said member in adjusted positions; a connection between said switch and member normally floating to permit independent movement of each, but capable of being confined, and when confined, serving to constrain said switch and member to elated movement;

and means operable to confine said connection.

2. The combination of a dimmer switch; a presetting member; means for fixing said member in adjusted positions; a connection between said switch and member having a floating fulcrum permitting independent movement of each, said connection serving, when said fulcrum is moved to a fixed position, to establish a definite relation between the positions of said switch and member; and means for moving said fulcrum to said fixed position.

3'. The combination of a pivoted switch member; a preset member pivoted on a common axis therewith; means for holding said preset member in adjusted positions; a link connecting said members and havin a pivotal connection with one and a sli ing connection with 'the other; a fulcrum on said link so positioned thereon as to ba coaxial with the common axis of the said members, when the latter are similarly adjusted; and means operable to move said fulcrum to the last named position.

4. The combination with a plurality` of dimmer units, each including a switch member, a presetting member, means for fixing said presetting member in adjusted 1- tions, a connection between said mem rs, normally floating to permit inde ndent adjustment of each, but capable of being confined, and when confined serving to establish a definite relation between the positions of said members, of means operable to confine all of said connections simultaneously.,

5.' The combination with a plurality of dimmer units, each including a switch member, a presetting member, means for fixing said presetting member in adjnstedi positions, a connection between said members having'a floating fulcrum permitting independent movement of each, said connection serving when said fulcrum is moved to a definite position to establish a definite' relation between the positions of said switch and member, of means operable to move said fulcra of all said switch units to such definite positions simultaneously.

6. The combination with a plurality of dimmer units, each including a pivoted switch member, a preset member pivoted on a common axis therewith, means for holding said preset member in adjusted positions, a link connecting said members and having a pivotal connection with one and a sliding connection with the other, a fulcrum on said link so positioned thereon as to be coaxial with the common axis of said members when the latter are similarly adjusted, of means operable to move said fulcra of all said links to alignment with said axes simultaneously.

7. The combination of a pivoted switch member having a handle; a preset member for predetermining positions of the switch member, pivoted on a common axis therewith and hav'in a'handle, said handles being so arrang that they are alined when the switch is in the position determined by the preset member; a latch for holdi said preset member in the adjustments e ected y its liandle; a cover structure having apertures for the passage of said handles and provided with a graduated scale against which the positions of said handles' may be read; a floating linkage connecting said members; a floating fulcrum on a part of said linkage so positioned as to be coaxial With the common axis of said members when the switch is in .the` position determined by the preset member; and means operable to move said fulcrum to the lastw named position.

8. The combination with a plurality of dimmer units, each inclu a pivoted switch member having a han le, a preset member for predetermining positions of the switch member pivoted on a common axis therewith and having a handle, said handles being so arranged that they are alined when the switch is in the position determined by the preset member, a latch for holdin said preset member in the adjustments e ected by its handle, a floating lmkave connecting said members, and a floating tfulcrum on a part of said linkage so positioned as to be coaxial with the common axis of said members when the switch is 'in the position determined by the preset member; of a cover structure having apertures for said handles and provided with graduated scales, one for each pair of associated reset and switch handles, arranged to in `cate directly the relative adjustments of said handles' and means operable to move said floating lcra of all said linkages to alinement with said axes simultaneously.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. a

CHARLES CUSTER ROBINSON. 

